The Forrest City times., 1887-10-08
sYour grace" said Mir. Barton. .l

evidently, as l think by some ona in the household; they are l believe, hid. den In the house. 1 ind here a most lkey place for them, and I ask your grace permission to open the box, in fairness to others, in justice to myself. 1"
 Inc duchess turned the light of her beantiful face to the woman who clutched her dress with such despair ing hands; she laid her white hands on the bowed head.
 Wy dear," she said, gently, syou need not mind. Let the box be operea, l au quite sure that my diamonds are not there"
 But Mrs. Grey did not raise her face With a smile, glad of those kindly worcs. She bent her head still lower she elutched the dress with even more despsiring hands.
 "lbeseech your grace" she cried, "doDot allow it to be done !" Thn MT. Barton spoke. "ltm so sure," he said, 'that tbere Is something wrong. It Is through my penetration and skill we have reached SO far and If lam not permitted to do whats right, just, and fair, 1 must givepp the case; when the machinery Of jusice is set going, 1t is not fair to interrupt it."
 Heipoke angrily, he saw the naughty expression of the ducbess's face. ''l an quite sure," said the duchess, calmt that none of my jewels are there.'
 An I," said Mir. Barton, Eff your gracelvill forgive me for contradicting you, l an equally certain they arc there.r
 "Ths only thing is to break 1t open, ,'' said tn duke hurriedly, .'and 80 put an endIo this scene. Before the box is touchet must ssy that quite agree with th duehess--no diamonds will be found tAere."
 Fer Heavens sake." cried the wailinggoice, then it died away.
 "iavs no feRF," said the duchess, locking town at the kneeling woman: but the nly answer was wall, such as she hn never heard from human lips.
 Remmler, you who follow my story, how the nn shone In the room---how its light tll on the oak, the tapestry, and the living faces. They all dre W near theBox, except the duchess and the wonnn who knelt with her face in her drss. A group that reminded one of aiuardian angel and a penitent sinner.
 At theirst vigorous blow given by the detetive, a cry came from the white lhs Of Mrs. Grey; 1t was as though ie blow had been struck upon her heart
 Anothe and another. Even the duchess turned her head to see. A crash. 8 eund of falling woe, a little cry rom he duke, and then the detec. tive triunphantiy exclaiwsd' "I toldYou sop What p.s itf All the light of the sun scene to be drawn ic.o 1t. The rays wereso brilliant no one could look at it. Fishing in the sunlight. set in diamonds lay the portrait of Lord Stair. Wen the duchess saw it cry of surpris broke from her. When the flash of the diamonds reached Mrs. Grey, Che cried out in despair. For some few minutes they all stood in silence, wnder-strlcken and grieved. Mir. Bartn took up the shining gems:
 "A smal, finely-painted miniature ,n he said, Bet in diamonds. There are l see, twety-fiye of the finest water The back q the locket is richly worked, and it is stached to a golden chain. Your graes, if mistake not, this be- longs to yn ?''
 The duchss held out her hands and took it. The sunlight famed and gleamed, ad the rays of light fell over her finger. Mrs. Grey raised her head for on moment. When she saw the portrait in those white hands she cried out He one suddenly blinded.
 Does tn, portrait with the jewels belong to yar grace ?" he asked.
 And she was compelled to answer sadly enoug:
 Il am sorv to say that it does. It is mine. My ather, Lord Stair, gave it to me-"
 There wes a profound silence for a few minutes the silence of pity and compassion. Still the duchess did not draw her dres rom the clasp of those despairing hnds,
 ''There neds no more '" said Mir. Barton. "for gra"e's diamonds found secreted in his fashion. I may say now that iron the first suspected this woman was ahief."
 "Wby ?" ased the luke.
 Because saw that which honest people unacostomed to such things would quite. ail to see. saw that she was hero n an assumed character and in disguis
 h.p s sna1 tho 'rs ay fses ahs de1e; re1Ied the detective. 'Idefy her to contradict me" and no soInd, no whisper of con- f.as q 1f.ff ion, xs..
 It was then hat the Duke of Meath went up to hiswife, who still held the flashing diamods in her hands.
 "Ethel, leavtthat woman." he said sternly. "l warned you from the first. Be pleased ;" b said, addressing the kneeling, crouoing figure, ito release the duchess'si lress," and when he drew 1t away smewhat abruptly, she fell with her fac on the floor.
 The duke drer his wife away, but she cried out win pity and with fear
 'Let me go baek to her-let me help her, Fulke 2"
 " ou shall no touch her." he cried angrlly. 'Such women as these are not to be even looked at by such as you."
 Tears came inb the beautiful pity ing eyes.
 "oh, Fulke, O not be hard upon me .n she pleaded
 "I am not, buthstice must be done," he replied.
 "The question: low is, where are the other jewels" sad Mir. Barton. This is but very small portion of what is missing. My opiion now. your grace, is that the rest ofthe jewels have been sent away and dlSosed of. This has evidently besn keIt that the diamonds mey be taken iron it and sold. We must find the rest.
 The duke was Joking thoughtfully at the portrait.
 They are magnificent stones," he said. Ethel, l Q not remeLa-e.tg have seen you wea it?"
 "No," said the duchess, her clear. sweet voice vibraing with emotion.
 ''I was always Braid of loosing it. l have nothing in te world that valne so much. It is a lfft both from my father and my beautiful young mother. She left it for me, Flke; it was wrap ped in paper. hale kept the paper